The crew reflects on the weirdest political moments of 2023, debates the best type of Christmas cookie, discusses the major political events of the year, explores the factors that could shape the 2024 election, and speculates on the impact of redistricting and Trump's indictments. They also share their weirdest moments, play 'Guess What Americans Think,' and discuss preferences for colored lights and Christmas trees.

Kimberly Wehle, professor of law, and Geoffrey Skelley, elections analyst, discuss the recent ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court barring Trump from the ballot. They explore the legal grounding, political reaction, and the possibility of the U.S. Supreme Court getting involved.

Discussion on impeachment, Senate negotiations, and poll data. Focus on concessions, polling on immigration and national security, and immigration debates in the upcoming election. Analysis of Trump's chances in the Republican primary and the significance of endorsements. Data analysis on off-year elections and high voter turnout.

Analyzing the dynamics within the Democratic Party, this podcast explores the shift from left populist candidates to Joe Biden in the presidential primaries. It discusses party unity, declining support among young voters, and generational divides on issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict. Journalist Joshua Green delves into the rise of left populism, the Republican Party's evolving stance on spending, and the challenges faced by progressive candidates. The influence of Donald Trump as a unifying force among Democrats is also examined.

The podcast discusses the potential challenges to democratic norms and presidential authority in a second term for Donald Trump. They analyze Trump's jokes about being a dictator and the implications of his rhetoric. They explore Trump's potential abuse of power and the constraints he may face. The role of civil servants and threats to the civil service are also discussed. The podcast explores the potential consequences of a second term for President Trump and critiques a UVA poll on public opinion on democracy.

Geoffrey Skelley, senior elections analyst, and MaryAlice Parks, White House correspondent, unpack the fourth Republican debate. They discuss strategies and performances of candidates, impact of attacking Trump on immigration, influence of personal anecdotes, and the importance of endorsements.

In the month since the last Republican debate, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has been inching up in the national polls, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been slipping. Today, DeSantis leads Haley by just 3 points nationally, 13 percent to 10 percent. They are similarly close in Iowa, and Haley leads DeSantis by a sizable margin in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Former President Donald Trump is at 60 percent nationally and 40-some percent in the early states.There were already rumblings about Haley supplanting DeSantis as the alternative to Trump, and then, last Tuesday, Americans for Prosperity — the political arm of the Koch network — endorsed Haley, throwing its financial and organizing weight behind her. In this installment of the 538 Politics podcast, the crew considers whether Haley really has a shot of winning the Republican primary.They also dive into one of the intractable polling questions of our time: What’s the deal with issue polling? In other words, when pollsters ask voters about the issues motivating them or how they feel about a certain policy, what information are voters giving us? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast explores the integration of AI in the 2024 election, discussing its potential influence on voter behavior and information spread. They also discuss the drama and politics surrounding AI adoption, nightmare scenarios of AI in the election, the potential threat of deep fakes, watermarking AI-generated content, interventions to address AI issues in elections, and concerns about using AI technology.

Discussion on the potential expulsion of Rep. George Santos from the U.S. House, changing public opinion on the Israel-Hamas war, and the gap between positive economic data and Americans' perception of the economy.

Voters in Simi Valley, California discuss their shifting preferences and how they don't neatly fit into one party. Topics include views on Trump's presidency, rising costs, supporting DeSantis, researching candidates for the California primary, raising kids in America while preserving Turkish culture, and concerns for the 2024 election.